Faber steps in for Cruz, gets UFC 169 title shot
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Urijah Faber is stepping in for injured Dominick Cruz to face UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao in the main event at UFC 169 on Feb. 1.
The UFC announced the changes Monday to its Super Bowl weekend show at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
Cruz (19-1) was the UFC’s first 135-pound champion, but has been out of the cage since October 2011 with a serious knee injury. He tore a muscle in his groin and elected to vacate his title, which has been held on an interim basis by Barao since July 2012.
Barao (33-1) beat Faber by unanimous decision to win the interim belt, and the Brazilian defended it twice last year.
The veteran Faber (30-6) won four fights last year to revitalize his championship hopes.
QUICK JABS: Former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz was arrested for investigation of driving under the influence after he hit a freeway median in Los Angeles. The California Highway Patrol says the 38-year-old Ortiz lost control of his vehicle Jan. 6 as he was driving his 2012 Porsche Panamera. Authorities say his car hit a concrete center median and his sports car had moderate damage. Ortiz had two passengers in his car but no one was injured … Keith Kizer has resigned as executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission, saying he wants to return to the attorney general’s office. The 47-year-old Kizer is stepping down from the $95,000-a-year position he’s held for eight years. He says he made a five-year commitment to hold the job when he accepted it in 2006 and will return to his previous job in administrative law with the AG’s office. The commission regulates boxing, mixed martial arts and other combat sports. Among other things, Kizer was credited with implementing more aggressive drug testing and overseeing some of the largest gates in state history. A national search will begin to find a replacement for him.
